M240 adapter assembly clip

ABSTRACT

A clamping mechanism corrects a design flaw in the NSN 1005-01-431-8324 adapter assembly without modifying it. The fine details of military regulations have encouraged the design flaw&#39;s persistence by limiting and preventing actions for correcting or modifying the NSN 1005-01-431-8324 adapter assembly. The clamping mechanism can be fielded without violating any regulations and thereby without necessitating the very expensive and time consuming acceptance procedures that would be required of other solutions. The clamping mechanism addresses the design flaw while simultaneously remaining within the regulatory regime.

TECHNICAL FIELD

Embodiments relate to the fields of machine guns, ammunition boxes,ammunition bags, and attachment systems. Embodiments also relate to thefield of government purchasing regulations.

BACKGROUND

The machine guns in the M240 family are belt fed medium range machineguns currently in wide service with the United States military and itsallies. The M240 family includes the M240, M240E4, M240B, M240C, M240E1,M240D, M240G, M240E5, M240H, M240E6, and MAG58. For simplicity, thevarious M240 family members are all herein referred to as M240s. An M240is often mounted to a vehicle or tripod but can also, because of itslight weight, be hand carried and hand fired.

In general, ammunition is belt fed into the M240 from the left side. Theammunition belt can be hand held, contained in an ammunition carrier. Anammunition carrier can be an ammunition box or an ammunition bagsometimes called a bandolier. Hand held ammunition belts are usuallyshort because a long belt is unwieldy and mishandling can lead to jams.Longer belts can be held in an ammunition carrier attached by an adapterassembly to the side of the M240. The M240 family adapter assembly is aspecific item that can be purchased by United States purchasing agentsas “NSN 1005-01-431-8324” or as “P/N 12976909”. NSN stands for “NationalStock Number” while P/N stands for “part number”.

FIG. 1, labeled as “prior art” illustrates the NSN 1005-01-431-8324receiver plate 100. The receiver plate has inner tangs 101 and a lockingtab 102. The NSN 1005-01-431-8324 receiver plate 100 attaches to an M240machine gun.

FIG. 2, labeled as prior art, illustrates the NSN 1005-01-431-8324bandolier holder 200. The bandolier holder has outer tangs 201. Anammunition carrier can be attached to the NSN 1005-01-431-8324 bandolierholder 200.

FIG. 3, labeled as “prior art”, illustrates a NSN 1005-01-431-8324adapter assembly 300. A tang connection 301 attaches the NSN1005-01-431-8324 receiver plate 100 to the NSN 1005-01-431-8324bandolier holder 200. Aligning the outer tangs to the inner tangs andthen sliding them along an attachment vector 302 forms the tangconnection 301. The locking tab is supposed to lock the tang connection.In certain scenarios, the locking tab fails to keep the tang connection301 securely connected resulting in NSN 1005-01-431-8324 adapterassembly 300 separation and in operational failure.

FIG. 4, labeled as “prior art”, illustrates inner tangs 101 and outertangs 201. The tangs on the left are disengaged while those on the rightare engaged to form a tang connection 301. The tang connection 301 isultimately responsible for securing an ammunition carrier to an M240.Those practiced in the arts of military armament and machine gunnery arefamiliar with the NSN 1005-01-431-8324 adapter assembly.

The NSN 1005-01-431-8324 adapter assembly illustrated in FIG. 3illustrates the part received in response to a purchase order for “NSN1005-01-431-8324”. It is strictly defined in both material anddimension. Small deviations from the strict definition are not toleratedbecause “NSN 1005-01-431-8324” has been carefully tested and any change,regardless of magnitude or intent, could compromise the tested functionof the adapter assembly. As such, improvements in “NSN 1005-01-431-8324”are extremely hard and costly to effectuate. Systems and methods thatimprove the function of “NSN 1005-01-431-8324” while maintainingcompliance with current military purchasing regulations and equipmentregulations are needed.

BRIEF SUMMARY

The following summary is provided to facilitate an understanding of someof the innovative features unique to the embodiments and is not intendedto be a full description. A full appreciation of the various aspects ofthe embodiments can be gained by taking the entire specification,claims, drawings, and abstract as a whole.

Systems and methods for clamping together a NSN 1005-01-431-8324receiver plate to a NSN 1005-01-431-8324 bandolier holder while notviolating military purchasing regulations nor violating militaryequipment regulations are needed.

It is therefore an aspect of the embodiments to provide a clamp thatfixes a NSN 1005-01-431-8324 receiver plate to a NSN 1005-01-431-8324bandolier holder. The NSN 1005-01-431-8324 receiver plate and the NSN1005-01-431-8324 bandolier holder together are a NSN 1005-01-431-8324adapter assembly.

It is also an aspect of the embodiments that the NSN 1005-01-431-8324adapter assembly is not modified to receive the clamp and that the clampdoes not modify the NSN 1005-01-431-8324 adapter assembly. As such, theNSN 1005-01-431-8324 adapter assembly always remains unmodified and inaccord with military regulations. Any modification to the NSN1005-01-431-8324 adapter assembly can be a violation of militaryregulations.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying figures, in which like reference numerals refer toidentical or functionally similar elements throughout the separate viewsand which are incorporated in and form a part of the specification,further illustrate the present invention and, together with thebackground of the invention, brief summary of the invention, anddetailed description of the invention, serve to explain the principlesof the present invention.

FIG. 1, labeled as “prior art” illustrates the NSN 1005-01-431-8324receiver plate;

FIG. 2, labeled as prior art, illustrates the NSN 1005-01-431-8324bandolier holder;

FIG. 3, labeled as “prior art”, illustrates a NSN 1005-01-431-8324adapter assembly;

FIG. 4, labeled as “prior art”, illustrates inner tangs and outer tangs;

FIG. 5 illustrates a clamp with a first plate and a second plate inaccordance with aspects of the embodiments;

FIG. 6 illustrates a clamp with bolts and a second plate in accordancewith aspects of the embodiments; and

FIG. 7 illustrates a clamp with bolts and nuts in accordance withaspects of the embodiments.

FIG. 8 illustrates a clamp with a first hexagonal rod and a secondhexagonal rod in accordance with aspects of the embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The particular values and configurations discussed in these non-limitingexamples can be varied and are cited merely to illustrate at least oneembodiment and are not intended to limit the scope thereof. In general,the figures are not to scale.

As previously discussed, the NSN 1005-01-431-8324 adapter assembly has adesign flaw leading to a tendency to separate under certain conditionsand uses. The design flaw is difficult to correct because of militarypurchasing regulations and military equipment regulations. The NSN1005-01-431-8324 adapter assembly has been tested and approved bymilitary organization all over the world. Any modification to the NSN1005-01-431-8324 adapter assembly necessarily leads to new rounds oftesting and approvals as the various interested military organizationsexamine what is, by regulation, a new piece of equipment. The UnitedStates military as well as allied militaries use the M240 and arethereby interested military organizations. Every military organizationhas its own regulations and test regimes.

Systems and methods that address the design flaw while not modifying theapproved part can be introduced without necessarily leading to the veryexpensive and time consuming testing processes that would otherwise berequired in accordance with military regulations. The fine details ofmilitary regulations cause great complications to what would otherwisebe a simple task. For example, gluing the NSN 1005-01-431-8324 adapterassembly together is an obvious solution that is easy to implement.However, the act of gluing the parts together is irreversible underfield conditions and thereby against regulations. A suitable solutionmust meet both technical and regulatory requirements.

FIG. 5 illustrates a clamp 500 with a first plate 502 and a second plate503 in accordance with aspects of the embodiments. Bolts 501 can passthrough the first plate 502 and thread into the second plate 503.Tightening the bolts 501 prevents the tang connection 301 fromdisengaging. The bolts can be removed to return the NSN 1005-01-431-8324adapter assembly to its original configuration. The first plate 502 andsecond plate 503 keep the bolts 501 separated and on either side of thetang connection 301. The second plate 503 need not be threaded if thebolts 501 are threaded into nuts positioned under the second plate 503.

FIG. 6 illustrates a clamp 600 with bolts 601 and a second plate 503 inaccordance with aspects of the embodiments. No first plate is requiredbecause the heads of the bolts 601 are too large to slip into throughthe tang connection 301. The bolts are threaded though the second plate503. Tightening nuts 602 onto the bolts 601 can bind the bolts 601inside the second plate 503 such that they don't inadvertently back outof the second plate 503. As such, the nuts 602 can act as thread lockersand more specifically as threaded thread lockers. A non-threaded secondplate 502, however, requires nuts 602 for the basic clamping action tobe effective.

FIG. 7 illustrates a clamp 700 with bolts 701 and nuts 702 in accordancewith aspects of the embodiments. The second plates of other embodimentshave been replaced with nuts 701 that are too large to pass through thetang connection 301. As can be discerned from FIGS. 1-3, the bolt headsand nuts 701 have both a minimum and maximum size constraint. They mustbe large enough that they do not pass through the tang assembly 301.They must also be small enough to fit into the NSN 1005-01-431-8324adapter assembly. Furthermore, the bolt shafts must be small enough topass through tang assembly. Set screws 702 can be employed as a threadedthread locker that locks the bolts 601 and nuts 701 together.

FIG. 8 illustrates a clamp with a first hexagonal rod 801 and a secondhexagonal rod 802 in accordance with aspects of the embodiments. Bolts803 pass through the first hexagonal rod 801 and thread into the secondhexagonal rod 802. Tightening the bolts 803 prevents the tang connectionfrom disengaging. The bolts 803 can be removed to return the NSN1005-01-431-8324 adapter assembly to its original configuration. FIG. 8is actually a tracing produced by tracing over a photograph of an NSN1005-01-431-8324 adapter assembly with an installed clamp. The unitunderwent successful testing and did not separate while installed on anM240 used in tactical training scenarios. The first hexagonal rod 801and second hexagonal rod 802 keep the bolts 803 separated and on eitherside of the tang connection. The second hexagonal rod 802 is tapped sothat bolt 803 can be threaded through it. In the photographedembodiment, a bolt end 804 can be seen extending out of the secondhexagonal rod 802. The second hexagonal rod 803 also presses against thelocking tab 102 and thereby helps prevent the locking tab 102 fromdisengaging from the NSN 1005-01-431-8324 bandolier holder 200. Thehexagonal rods 801, 802 are embodiments of the plates 502, 503 of FIG.5.

It will be appreciated that variations of the above-disclosed and otherfeatures and functions, or alternatives thereof, may be desirablycombined into many other different systems or applications. Also thatvarious presently unforeseen or unanticipated alternatives,modifications, variations or improvements therein may be subsequentlymade by those skilled in the art which are also intended to beencompassed by the following claims.

1. A system comprising: a clamp that fixes a NSN 1005-01-431-8324receiver plate to a NSN 1005-01-431-8324 bandolier holder wherein a NSN1005-01-431-8324 adapter assembly comprises the NSN 1005-01-431-8324receiver plate and the NSN 1005-01-431-8324 bandolier holder; whereinthe NSN 1005-01-431-8324 adapter assembly is not modified to receive theclamp; and wherein attaching the clamp does not modify the NSN1005-01-431-8324 adapter assembly.
 2. The system of claim 1 wherein theclamp comprises a first plate, a second plate, and a bolt.
 3. The systemof claim 2 further comprising a thread locker wherein the bolt isthreaded into and through the second plate and wherein the thread lockeris threaded and binds the bolt inside the second plate.
 4. The system ofclaim 1 wherein the clamp comprises a second plate and a bolt whereinthe bolt's head can not pass through a tang assembly that is formed byassembling the NSN 1005-01-431-8324 receiver plate and the NSN1005-01-431-8324 bandolier holder.
 5. The system of claim 4 furthercomprising a thread locker wherein the bolt is threaded into and throughthe second plate and wherein the thread locker is threaded and binds thebolt inside the second plate.
 6. The system of claim 1 wherein the clampcomprises a nut and a bolt wherein neither the bolt's head nor the nutcan not pass through a tang assembly that is formed by assembling theNSN 1005-01-431-8324 receiver plate and the NSN 1005-01-431-8324bandolier holder.
 7. The system of claim 6 further comprising a threadlocker wherein the bolt is threaded into and through the nut and whereinthe thread locker is threaded and binds the bolt inside the nut.
 8. Thesystem of claim 1 wherein the clamp comprises a first hexagonal rod, asecond hexagonal rod, and a bolt; wherein the NSN 1005-01-431-8324receiver plate comprises a locking tab that engages the NSN1005-01-431-8324 bandolier holder, and therein the second hexagonal rodprevents the locking tab from disengaging from the NSN 1005-01-431-8324bandolier holder.
 9. A system comprising: a NSN 1005-01-431-8324 adapterassembly comprising an NSN 1005-01-431-8324 receiver plate and an NSN1005-01-431-8324 bandolier holder; a clamp that fixes the NSN1005-01-431-8324 receiver plate to the NSN 1005-01-431-8324 bandolier;wherein the NSN 1005-01-431-8324 adapter assembly is not modified toreceive the clamp; and wherein attaching the clamp does not modify theNSN 1005-01-431-8324 adapter assembly.
 10. The system of claim 9 whereinthe clamp comprises a first plate, a second plate, and a bolt.
 11. Thesystem of claim 10 further comprising a thread locker wherein the boltis threaded into and through the second plate and wherein the threadlocker is threaded and binds the bolt inside the second plate.
 12. Thesystem of claim 9 wherein the clamp comprises a second plate and a boltwherein the bolt's head can not pass through a tang assembly that isformed by assembling the NSN 1005-01-431-8324 receiver plate and the NSN1005-01-431-8324 bandolier holder.
 13. The system of claim 12 furthercomprising a thread locker wherein the bolt is threaded into and throughthe second plate and wherein the thread locker is threaded and binds thebolt inside the second plate.
 14. The system of claim 9 wherein theclamp comprises a nut and a bolt wherein neither the bolt's head nor thenut can not pass through a tang assembly that is formed by assemblingthe NSN 1005-01-431-8324 receiver plate and the NSN 1005-01-431-8324bandolier holder.
 15. The system of claim 14 further comprising a threadlocker wherein the bolt is threaded into and through the nut and whereinthe thread locker is threaded and binds the bolt inside the nut.
 16. Thesystem of claim 9 wherein the clamp comprises a first hexagonal rod, asecond hexagonal rod, and a bolt; wherein the NSN 1005-01-431-8324receiver plate comprises a locking tab that engages the NSN1005-01-431-8324 bandolier holder, and therein the second hexagonal rodprevents the locking tab from disengaging from the NSN 1005-01-431-8324bandolier holder.